Paul Clements

Brilliant to see announced that the WMCA will accelerate support for our world class creative industries through new funding for the region - following just a couple of weeks on from news of our renewed MOU with the BBC bringing investment to the regional screen sector. Thanks to Rachael Wadsworth and Eleanor G. for your work to bring this to life in DCMS and to the many colleagues who have supported us in making the collective case for creativity in the West Midlands. The West Midlands Combined Authority is one of six UK regions with strengths in creative industries that have been awarded £25 million as part of the Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund. This funding will grow the already booming creative industries of the West Midlands - including film and TV, video games, createch, music and performing arts and design. The region is home to over 15,000 creative enterprises, including Digbeth Loc Studios and BBC StudioWorks, while Birmingham, the biggest city in the region, has World Craft City status. The fund was announced in the Creative Industries Sector Plan in June, as part of Industrial Strategy, where the Government shared their intention to invest £150 million in the creative industries of six regions outside of London - Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, West of England, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy revealed that the fund will be split equally across these regions to drive growth, innovation and investment.The fund will empower local Mayors to support creative professionals, businesses and young people in their communities with access to finance, mentoring and networking opportunities to help them connect with investors and skills programmes. Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary, said: “Creativity has no postcode - whether it’s a musician in Birmingham, a filmmaker in Coventry, or a video games developer in Wolverhampton. “We know that it is not one size fits all. That’s why we are committed to growing our creative industries in every corner of the nation as part of our Creative Industries Sector Plan, and hope that this devolved funding will be just what these regions need to make their creative industries the best that they can be.” Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our region is well known for its grit and graft as the manufacturing heart of Britain. But our film and TV sets, gaming studios, music venues, theatre stages, and digital workshops are also fast becoming a major part of our regional economy. “We have the talent, the locations and now the government’s backing to write a new chapter of growth - one that turns more of our stories into exciting jobs and new opportunities. This is about putting our people and places centre stage in the UK’s fast growing creative sector.”

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Culture Minister Ian Murray carried out his first official visit since being appointed, opening Pinewood Studios’ new Independent  Indie Film Hub. The hub will provide sound stages, production offices and workshop spaces to support independent filmmakers, backed by the Government’s new Independent Film Tax Credit. Minister Ian Murray said: “Pinewood's Independent  Indie Film Hub is a striking example of the innovation and investment that the Government is championing across the creative industries. This world-class facility gives independent filmmakers the tools they need to bring their visions to life, and it was a pleasure to open it today.” This builds on the Government’s wider £380 million Creative Industries Sector Plan, which is boosting local jobs, driving economic growth and ensuring the UK remains a world leader in creativity and culture

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Northampton to make history with the first combined music festival and disability event of its kind in the UK. The collaboration sees NN Fest, produced by MOSounds Ltd, providing the music festival infrastructure and atmosphere, while Nick’s Access Outdoors CIC is bringing cutting-edge all-terrain mobility technology and accessible adventure experiences. Suzy Jones, Operations Director from MOSounds, said: "We believe music has the power to unite people, so collaborating on the UK's first combined music festival and disability event feels like a natural step forward. We had such fantastic feedback on accessibility at a few of our previous events and feel it’s really important to show people how outdoor festivals can make minor adjustments that make a huge difference to wheelchair users. This shouldn’t be special and exciting, it should be the norm. This partnership allows us to create something truly groundbreaking - where great music meets innovative accessibility, ensuring everyone can be part of the celebration at Delapré Abbey." Nick Wilson commented: "We're bringing together two things that can help us get through tough times - music and getting outdoors. Combining a disability event with a music festival is totally unique and takes it away from being a solely disabled and fairly formal affair, to a fully inclusive and fun event for everyone." Pre-registered guests can experience the fun and freedom of an all-terrain around Delapré Abbey grounds, alongside free access to the festival. The experience caters to newcomers to adaptive mobility, showing them what's possible in a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere. Additional features include: • Live music programme • Live demos of latest mobility technology • A mobile Changing Place by RevoLOOtion • A quiet sensory zone ran by Virtual Reality Therapies and supported by SENDS 4 Dad • Representation from local access to work and disabilities coaching, Empower Access Thrive Richard Clinton, Chief Executive of Delapré Abbey, said: “We’re proud to be hosting this collaboration between NN Fest and Access Outdoors here at Delapré Abbey. Our grounds are for everyone to enjoy, and this event helps spark conversations and connections between different communities, showing how much can be achieved when people come together to share experiences in a special place like Northampton.” The locally designed extreme all-terrain prototype, RockClimber by Rock Engineering, which enabled Nick to achieve his solo ascent of Yr Wyddfa, will also be on display for people to take selfies. #Accessibility #AccessOutdoors #Disability #MusicFestival #Northampton

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Digital Cinema Media has secured a contract with the UK's fastest growing cinema chain, Omniplex Cinema Group 🎬 This addition increases DCM's market share from 81% to 85% for the first time in its history 📈 #Omniplex will officially enter DCM’s estate from 1 November 2025, joining Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, ODEON Cinemas Group, Vue , Picturehouse, Reel Cinemas Limited, The Light and over 160 leading independent cinemas 🌟 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eD4zVMWx #CinemaAdvertising #Film #Cinema #Media #Advertising

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Built by creatives, for creatives, Seeker Music is redefining music publishing.   Yesterday, we shared The Sunday Times article, “How FTSE 100 fund manager M&G engineered a smash-hit song”, and as part of our ongoing investment story series, we asked Seeker Music CEO and Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Evan Bogart to tell us more about the journey from music publishing start-up in 2020 to important industry player, with a diverse catalogue of over 17,000 songs in just five years.   Seeker’s differentiated approach means its creative team works with songwriters and musicians to reimagine – or ‘flip’ – old songs into new ones. By acquiring and revitalising those with the highest artistic potential, Seeker enhances income for artists and investors alike through creativity and innovation, amplifying songs and their associated revenue streams globally. By tapping into new music technology and platforms, Seeker expands audiences, increases revenues, and grows digital and physical consumption – alongside more traditional methods of promoting songs in film, TV and advertising.   Majority-owned by our Life business’s £64 billion PruFund – part of the £128 billion Prudential With-Profits Fund – Seeker is actively managed by our Asset Management’s Private Markets division, which has supported and driven its growth and innovation. It’s an example of our unique business model in action.   You can hear from Evan below – and stay tuned for the full Seeker Music story later this week. A link to the Sunday Times article can be found in the comments.    #MandGSeekerMusic #MandGInvestmentStories  

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